Dr. Debbi Burdick, Superintendent of the Cave Creek Unified School District, is pleased to announce that she will be recommending to the CCUSD Governing Board that Mr. Aaron Pettinato be named HTES Interim Principal for the remainder of the school year.
Aaron Pettinato has been a CCUSD employee since 2006. He began his career as a student teacher in a 4th/5th grade combination classroom at HTES. Aaron was hired that year and taught 5th and 6th grades at HTES from 2006-2016. He was named Dean of Students at Cactus Shadows High School in 2016.
Janiene Marlow, Director of Human Resources and HTES Planning Principal said, “I am so proud and happy for him. You take Horseshoe Trails with you wherever you go!”
Aaron has two MA degrees, one in Elementary Education and a second in Educational Leadership from ASU. Aaron is a graduate of the 2014-2015 CCUSD Aspiring Administrators Academy. Aaron has been a coach, trainer and valued member of many site and district committees. He is among the first group of educators to travel to China to help launch the Chinese Immersion program at HTES. He has received the District’s highest recognition as a recipient of the Helping Us Grow Award (H.U.G.) in 2010.
Superintendent Burdick said, “Mr. Pettinato is a natural fit to lead HTES during this transition. His energy and passion for the HTES Community is infectious. We look forward to his leadership for the Stallions.”
Aaron grew up Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (he is a Steelers Fan) and came out west to study at ASU. Aaron met and married Tiffany while teaching at HTES and they now have three children Aubrey, Owen and Frankie.
HTES is an A+ School of Excellence offering its students Chinese (K-6), Chinese Immersion (grades K-4, expanding yearly) and Horsemanship with Kachina’s Place. For more information, please contact the school at 480-272-8500.
